Prof Kwesi Aning Urges Action Against Conflict Profiteers

Security consultant Professor Kwesi Aning has urged authorities to publicly name and punish individuals benefiting from conflicts across the country, emphasizing the need for a strong deterrent.

Professor Aning made the call on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Thursday, while reacting to President Akufo-Addo’s recent expression of concern over the increasing number of chieftaincy and land disputes, which the President described as a major challenge for national stability.

He stated that while continued efforts to resolve these disputes through established institutions are vital, it is equally important to hold accountable those who actively fuel and profit from them, particularly those involved in the illegal arms trade and other illicit activities.

“Violence has become profitable in Ghana,” Prof Aning observed. “We have to make sure that those who profit from violence, from indiscipline, from the sales of guns are punished, and when they are punished, it should be published to serve as a deterrent.”

The security expert argued that simply increasing resources for security forces and stakeholders will be ineffective if the law is not applied consistently to deter wrongdoing. “We can resource the statutory security forces as much as possible, give the stakeholders and the infrastructure all the money, but if we can’t use the law to deter, to punish and to ensure that people comply, then we are just wasting our time,” he explained.

Professor Aning’s comments underscore the growing concern about the commercialization of conflict in Ghana and the need for a more robust legal framework to address it.

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